A memorial service will be held on Jan. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Nicholas Oresko School, 33 East 24th St., Bayonne, for Dr. Anaka Prakash, 68, Saddle River resident, loving husband and father, respected Gastroenterologist and advocate for gastrointestinal heath and cancer screening. He passed away peacefully during the morning of Dec. 27 at Bayonne Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Sasha Prakash, and their two sons, Anil and Nick.
Dr. Prakash was born in Kerala, India. He graduated from The Medical College of Trivandrum in Kerala, India in 1973. He completed his residency at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Paterson, in Internal Medicine between 1973 and 1975 and a fellowship at UMDNJ in Newark in Gastroenterology and Liver Disease between 1975 and 1977.
A member of CarePoint Medical Group, Dr. Prakash was the director of the Endoscopy Department at Bayonne Medical Center and was board certified in Gastroenterology, Geriatrics and Internal Medicine. He was affiliated with and held teaching positions in several area hospitals including Jersey City Medical Center, Peninsula Surgery Center and Christ Hospital. Dr. Prakash was named one of the Castle Connolly Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area in Gastroenterology from 2004-2012. He was a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Gastroenterology, and was the first recipient of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) American Education Achievement Program in 2011. As a result of Dr. Prakash’s efforts, Bayonne Medical Center received ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition in 2009.
Dr. Prakash organized the colorectal cancer screening program for Bayonne Medical Center for over fifteen years and participated regularly in clinical studies, conferences and seminars, keeping himself on the cutting edge of developments in gastroenterology to be better able to provide his patients with the latest and best medical care. He became a leading advocate for physician education and public outreach to increase awareness for gastrointestinal disorders and colorectal screening.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations with the American Cancer Society for colorectal cancer research. Donations can be made by calling (800) 227-2345 or through Dr. Prakash’s American Cancer Society memorial page at: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=fund&fr_id=9910&pxfid=1769673.